Bats Control Destiny After Incredible Turnaround
February 11, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
(Austin, TX) - Just when you thought the Ice Bats magical run for the playoffs would come to a screeching halt...the Laredo Bucks came to town.
The Ice Bats won 9 of 11 games in January and were flying up the CHL's Southern Conference Standings trying to catch Corpus Christi for the fifth and final playoff spot. Then the Bats traveled to New Mexico to begin February with two games against the Scorpions lost both games by a goal to drop back four points from playoff contention with a three game series against the first place Laredo Bucks looming.
Austin entered the weekend with a 1-4 season record vs. the Bucks. Despite Laredo's second best record in the league, and the top spot in the Southern Conference, the Bats steamrolled Laredo in the first two games, then swept the weekend series with a shootout victory on Sunday. After winning seven of their first 30 games this season, Austin has won 12 of the last 16.
The Ice Bats have now slid past Corpus Christi and Amarillo to fifth place in the conference with 18 games left to play. The top five teams will qualify for the CHL playoffs.
Goaltender Miguel Beaudry played all three games and fueled the Bats momentum stopping 108 of 114 shots in the series for a .947 Save Percentage. Beaudry also recorded a 1.94 Goals Against Avg.
Forward Brendan Cook has been the offensive sparkplug for the Ice Bats all season and continued his fine play. Cook scored four goals and recorded three assists in the Ice Bats' three wins. "Cookie" leads the Bats in goals (20), points (42), and is tied for the team lead with assists (22). Defenseman Jason Tessier is the other assist leader. Rookie Mike Bartlett continues to turn heads with 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in the last 10 games, leading the team.
Of the 18 games remaining in the Ice Bats' season, three of the games are against Corpus Christi and two are against Amarillo...the other two teams vying for that fifth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. Eight of the games will be played against Rio Grande Valley, a team the Bats are 3-1 against this year. Rio Grande has been in a freefall since January 5th, losing 14 of their last 15 games. The chance to pick up points and make up ground is there for the Bats' taking. 10 of their 18 games will be played on their home ice at Chaparral Ice Arena.
The Austin Ice Bats have not made the CHL playoffs in four years...the last time Brent Hughes was the team's head coach for a full season. "Hughesy" returned this year and now has his team in control of their own destiny.
The Ice Bats are the AA Affiliate for the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros (AAA). The team is currently playing its 12th season in Austin. Single game tickets and mini-plans are available by calling 512-927-7825 or visiting icebats.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2008
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- Sign And Dine Rescheduled - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Bats Big Weekend Vaults Them Into Playoff Spot - CHL
- Rayz Make Two Deals Before Trade Deadline - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Sundogs Send Winchester to Youngstown - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings acquire Hedberg, Carnegie - Mississippi RiverKings
- Eagles Get Two-for-One, Esdale Traded to Corpus Christi - Colorado Eagles
- CHL Trade Deadline Yields Seven Deals - CHL
- Simoes Traded To Youngstown - New Mexico Scorpions
- Hounds Acquire Simoes - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Thunder Makes Two Deals At Deadline - Wichita Thunder
- Bucks Made Deadline Deals: Acquire Goupil From Thunder - Laredo Bucks
- Beauregard Named Oakley CHL Player Of Week - Tulsa Oilers
- Jaeger named CHL Goaltender of the Week - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Staying Hot - Tulsa Oilers
- Oakley CHL Player/Goaltender of the Week Announced - CHL
- Eagles Week In Review - Colorado Eagles
- St. Vincent on coaches show - Tulsa Oilers
- Maslonka Called Up To Albany - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Bats Control Destiny After Incredible Turnaround - Austin Ice Bats
- Brahmas Get Afternoon Delight, Win 3-1 - Fort Worth Brahmas
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